1REBEL ICONS: ANDY
What were you like before fitness became a part of your life?
Is it crazy to say I can’t remember? Haha. Training has definitely become my identity in the past decade, so I suppose I could say before that, I was a little bit strayed from my path.
Before coaching, what were you doing?
I was working coffee shop jobs/receptionist work whilst trying to make it as an actor.
Can you remember a moment when movement started to feel like more than just training?
Yes, I can remember the exact moment. For context I was bullied for my weight when I was at school. When I was 19, I started to go to the gym and after a few months, a guy in my Uni class said the exact words, ‘wow Andy, your body looks insane man’. That moment was my catalyst, from someone with deep body insecurities, having a compliment like that fuelled the fire. I feel like I keep showing up to training now for young Andy (definitely got a chip on my shoulder).
What did fitness give you that you didn’t have before?
Respect. Firstly for myself. The daily act of showing up and finding consistency is a transferable skill that I use for everything in my life. And respect from others: other people treat you differently when you continually show up in your own training.
How do you think where you grew up shaped who you are now?
Definitely can’t sit still! In my hometown I was always doing something, hardly ever at home, I love being around people. Happiest when outdoors too, that definitely fed into the start of my running journey.
How do you want people to feel when they walk out of your class?
A changed state. More equipped for their day. Any difficult conversations/tasks have been made that fraction easier by doing the hard things in that studio.
When do you feel most in your element, inside or outside the studio?
I feel the most in a ‘flow’ when under pressure. Being in front of a crowd of people or being on camera is where I feel really alive.
What keeps you coming back to coach, even on the harder days?
The best compliment you can get is that your class is ‘always great’. That need for consistency is sometimes exhausting. And you never know who is in the room with you. You never know how much one sentence, one bit of eye contact, one workout can change someone’s entire day.
If you had to describe the power of committing to one hour in your own words, what would you say?
A committed hour can change your life. It just takes one workout, one decision to shift your entire outlook. Always jump into everything head first.